North Dakota Small Claims Court: Limit, Fees and How to File

The most you can ask for$15,000

LawyersLawyers allowed

Time to sue on a contract6 years

Good to know

Covers money claims or cancelling an agreement involving fraud, up to $15,000. Someone who was assigned a claim can't file it. A defendant can move the case to regular District Court.

Lawyers: You can appear without one. If a defendant moves the case to District Court and the plaintiff wins, the court must award the plaintiff attorney's fees.

How it works in North Dakota

Complete the Claim Affidavit (Form 2) and Affidavit of Identification (Form 8), and gather your documents.
File them with the clerk of court in the right county and pay $20.
Have the defendant served, then file proof of service (Form 6).
Wait 20 days for the defendant to ask for a hearing or move the case. If they do neither, you can get a default judgment.
If there's a hearing, it's held 10 to 30 days after the request. Attend in person unless the court approves a remote appearance.

What it costs

$20. It's refunded if the judge dismisses the case as unsuitable for small claims.

How long you have to sue

Written contract	6 years
Spoken agreement	6 years
Damage to property	6 years
Personal injury	6 years

N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16. These are general limits. The clock can start late, pause or be much shorter, as it is for claims against a government agency.

If you lose

There is no appeal: both sides give up that right in small claims, unless the defendant moves the case to District Court instead.

Official links

Fee schedule reissued effective 1 July 2025. The small claims fee is $20. No change to the $15,000 limit found.

North Dakota Small Claims Court

How it works in North Dakota

What it costs

How long you have to sue

If you lose

Official links

Sources

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